Method and apparatus for discrimination of sources in stray voltage detection

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for discriminating between electric field sources. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a mobile detection system comprising a sensor probe for remotely measuring an electric field generated by an electric field source in a patrolled area; and a processor, coupled to the sensor probe, for processing data received from the sensor probe to generate a first field strength and at least a second field strength for determining whether the electric field source is potentially hazardous.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/930,975, filed Jan. 21, 2011 which claims benefit of U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application Ser. No. 61/336,732, filed Jan. 26, 2010, both ofwhich are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the detection of electric fields, andmore particularly, to a method and apparatus for determining potentiallyhazardous energized objects.

2. Description of the Related Art

Power distribution systems, for example those in large metropolitanareas, are subject to many stresses, which may occasionally result inthe generation of undesirable or dangerous anomalies. An infrequent butrecurrent problem in power distribution infrastructures is the presenceof “stray voltages” in the system. These stray voltages may presentthemselves when objects, such as manhole covers, gratings, street lightpoles, phone booths, and the like, become electrically energized (e.g.,at 120V AC). These objects may become energized when an electricallyconductive path is established between underground secondary cabling andthese objects, for example, due to physical damage to electricalinsulation that results in direct contact between electricallyconductive elements, or through the introduction of water acting as aconductor. These energized objects present obvious dangers to people andanimals in the general public.

In order to identify energized objects throughout a large area, such asa large urban area, a mobile system may be utilized to traverse the areaand remotely (i.e., in a non-contact manner) detect stray voltages onenergized objects. One technique for detecting such stray voltages is bymeasuring the electric field pattern exhibited by energized objects atthe fundamental power line frequency (e.g., 60 Hz in the U.S., 50 Hz inEurope and parts of Asia).

During the remote detection of stray voltages, a “false positive” mayoccur when an object emits an electric field pattern resembling that ofa potentially hazardous energized structure while not being energized ina fashion that could cause shock or electrocution. For example, a “Don'tWalk” pedestrian crossing signal often employs LED's that emit anelectric field pattern similar to that of a potentially hazardousenergized structure even though the LED's and their electricalconnections are well protected from contact and no shock hazard exists.Discriminating between potentially hazardous energized structures andthese false positives requires a technician operating a mobile detectionsystem to stop and make time-consuming manual inspections of thestructure.

Therefore, there exists a need in the art for efficiently discriminatingbetween potentially hazardous energized objects and potentiallynon-hazardous sources of electric field.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a method andapparatus for discriminating between electric field sources. In oneembodiment, the apparatus comprises a mobile detection system comprisinga sensor probe for remotely measuring an electric field generated by anelectric field source in a patrolled area; and a processor, coupled tothe sensor probe, for processing data received from the sensor probe togenerate a first field strength and at least a second field strength fordetermining whether the electric field source is potentially hazardous.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the present invention, briefly summarized above anddiscussed in greater detail below, can be understood by reference to theillustrative embodiments of the invention depicted in the appendeddrawings. It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawingsillustrate only typical embodiments of this invention and are thereforenot to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admitto other equally effective embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system for detecting potentiallyhazardous energized structures in accordance with one or moreembodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a processor in accordance with one or moreembodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a graphical diagram for discriminating between potentiallyhazardous and non-hazardous electric field sources in accordance withone or more embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of a method for discriminating betweenpotentially hazardous and non-hazardous electric field sources inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a pair of graphical diagrams depicting exemplary data fordiscriminating between potentially hazardous and non-hazardous electricfield sources in accordance with one or more embodiments of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to apparatus andmethods for discriminating between potentially hazardous andnon-hazardous sources of electric fields. For purposes of clarity, andnot by way of limitation, illustrative depictions of the presentinvention are described with references made to the above-identifieddrawing figures. Various modifications obvious to one skilled in the artare deemed to be within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system 100 for detecting potentiallyhazardous energized structures in accordance with one or moreembodiments of the present invention. The system 100 comprises a strayvoltage detection (SVD) system 102, a mobile vehicle 104, a potentiallyhazardous energized manhole cover 114, and a streetlight 116 coupled toa pedestrian crossing sign 118 that is a potentially non-hazardoussource of an electric field. Additionally, the system 100 comprisessubterranean power distribution system cabling 120, the cabling 120having a fault 122 (such as insulation damage).

The fault 122 results in the manhole cover 114 being electricallyenergized by a power line conductor within the cabling 120, causing themanhole cover 110 to exhibit an electric field pattern primarily at thefundamental frequency of the power line (e.g., 60 Hz for a U.S. powerdistribution system). The manhole cover 114, energized in such a way,exhibits a voltage at its surface (i.e., a stray voltage) and thuspresents a potential electric shock hazard to a pedestrian or animalcoming in contact with the manhole cover 114. In one or more alternativeembodiments, the manhole cover 114 and/or other objects may becomesimilarly energized in a potentially hazardous fashion due to othertypes of electrical system faults; for example, a street light maybecome energized due to an electrical fault within the street light thatshorts the power line conductor to the street light casing.

In contrast to the manhole cover 114, the crossing sign 118 iselectrically energized by a power source but does not exhibit a voltageat its surface. The crossing sign 118 thus generally does not representa potential electric shock hazard. The crossing sign 118 comprises lightemitting diodes (LEDs) that emit an electric field pattern similar tothat of a potentially hazardous energized object (e.g., the manholecover 114) but, due to a rectification occurring in the diode structureof the LEDs, additionally comprises a relatively large component at oneor more frequencies other than the fundamental power line frequency,such as, a harmonic of the fundamental power line frequency. In somealternative embodiments, the crossing sign 118 and/or other objects maysimilarly act as a potentially non-hazardous electric field source andexhibit an analogous electric field pattern having significantcomponents at one or more frequencies other than the fundamental powerline frequency, such as, a harmonic of the fundamental power linefrequency.

The SVD system 102 is capable of detecting and providing an indicationof stray voltages present on hazardous energized objects, such as themanhole cover 114, as well as discriminating between such potentiallyhazardous energized objects and potentially non-hazardous electric fieldsources, such as the crossing sign 118. The SVD system 102 is generallytransported by the mobile vehicle 104, which may be a car, van, truck,cart, or the like, for patrolling an area to identify potentiallyhazardous energized objects. The SVD system 102 comprises a sensor probe106, location sensors 110, and an SVD display system 112, each coupledto a processor 108.

The sensor probe 106 may be mounted to the mobile vehicle 104, towed bythe mobile vehicle 104, or similarly conveyed by the mobile vehicle 104for measuring an electric field in the area patrolled by the mobilevehicle 104. The sensor probe 106 produces one or more electricalsignals representative of strength of the electric field in the area,and couples the generated electrical signals to the processor 108.Examples of such a sensor probe may be found in commonly assigned U.S.Pat. No. 7,248,054, entitled “Apparatus and Method for Detecting anElectric Field”, issued Jul. 24, 2007; commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No.7,253,642, entitled “Method for Sensing an Electric Field”, issued Aug.7, 2007; and commonly assigned U. S. patent application publicationnumber 2009/0195255 entitled “Apparatus and Method for Monitoring andControlling Detection of Stray Voltage Anomalies” and filed Jan. 21,2009. In some embodiments, more than one sensor probe 106 may beutilized for measuring the electric field. Additionally oralternatively, the SVD system 102 may further comprise one or morecomponents known in the art, such as filters, analog to digitalconverters (ADC), amplifiers, and the like, for processing theelectrical signals generated by the sensor probe 106.

The processor 108 processes the electrical signals received from thesensor probe 106 to generate a first field strength—i.e., a measurementof the electric field strength at the fundamental frequency of the powerdistribution system (“field strength at a first frequency”) forproviding an indication of a stray voltage present on an object. In someembodiments, the power distribution system may have a fundamentalfrequency of 60 Hz; in other embodiments, the power distribution systemmay be at a different frequency, such as 50 Hz. The field strength atthe first frequency may be used to generate the stray voltage indicationas a visual indication displayed by the SVD display system 112; forexample, a graphical display of the field strength at the firstfrequency compared to a threshold. Additionally or alternatively, thefield strength at the first frequency may be used to generate a strayvoltage indication as an audible indication, such as a continuous toneproportional in pitch to the strength of the first electric fieldstrength value. In such embodiments where an audible stray voltageindication is generated, the processor 108 and/or the SVD display system112 comprises a speaker for presenting the audible indication.

The processor 108 additionally receives information from thespeed/location sensors 110 for determining a speed and/or a location ofthe sensor probe 106, as well as a time stamp corresponding to sensorprobe measurements obtained. The speed/location sensors 110 may includeone or more of a wheel speed sensor, a wheel revolution sensor, a GlobalPositioning System (GPS) receiver, an imaging device (e.g., a camera,video camera, stereo camera, or the like), a speed sensor, a locationdevice, or the like, for obtaining speed and/or location data andproviding such data to the processor 108. The speed and/or location datamay be utilized by the processor 108 during processing to generate thefield strength at a first frequency; correlated with the electricalsignals and/or field strength at a first frequency for display and/orstorage; displayed on the display system 112; or similarly utilized bythe SVD system 102.

The SVD display system 112 provides a means for displaying data to auser, such as the electrical signals generated by the sensor probe 106,speed and/or location data obtained by the speed/location sensors 110,processed data from the processor 108 (e.g., the field strength at afirst frequency), and/or combinations of the aforementioned. In someembodiments, one or more of the speed/location sensors 110 mayadditionally or alternatively be coupled directly to the SVD displaysystem 112 for displaying speed and/or location data. The SVD displaysystem 112 may comprise a graphical user interface (GUI) for displayingdata as well as providing operative control of the SVD system 102;additionally, the SVD display system 112 may comprise a conventionallaptop computer for storing data and/or for further analysis of data.

Examples of a system such as the SVD system 102 for indicating a strayvoltage at a fundamental power line frequency may be found in commonlyassigned U.S. Pat. No. 7,248,054, entitled “Apparatus and Method forDetecting an Electric Field”, issued Jul. 24, 2007; commonly assignedU.S. Pat. No. 7,253,642, entitled “Method for Sensing an Electric Field”and issued Aug. 7, 2007; commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 7,486,081,entitled “Apparatus and Method for Monitoring and Controlling Detectionof Stray Voltage Anomalies” and issued Feb. 3, 2009; and commonlyassigned U.S. patent application publication number 2009/0195255,entitled “Apparatus and Method for Monitoring and Controlling Detectionof Stray Voltage Anomalies” and filed Jan. 21, 2009.

In accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention, theprocessor 108 generates a second field strength and a third fieldstrength—i.e., measurements of the electric field strength at a secondand a third frequency (“field strength at a second frequency” and “fieldstrength at a third frequency”, respectively), based on the electricalsignals received from the sensor probe 106. The second and thirdfrequencies may be second and third harmonics of the power distributionsystem's fundamental frequency, although they are not limited toharmonics of the fundamental frequency. The field strengths at thefirst, second, and/or third frequencies may then be compared in order todiscriminate between potentially hazardous energized objects (e.g., themanhole cover 114) and potentially non-hazardous sources of electricfields (e.g., the crossing sign 118). The comparison of the fieldstrengths may be expressed in absolute and/or relative values.

Field strength measurements at other frequencies may additionally oralternatively be utilized. In some embodiments, the processor 108performs narrow band filtering at each frequency measured, including themeasurement at the fundamental frequency.

In some embodiments, the processor 108 may compare the field strengthsat the first, second, and/or third frequencies and generate anindication, such as a visual and/or audible alarm, or the like,signifying whether an object is determined to be a potentially hazardousor non-hazardous source of the electric field. Additionally oralternatively, the processor 108 may generate a graphical display of thefield strengths at the first, second, and/or third frequencies forpresentation by the SVD display system 112. In some such embodiments,the graphical display may be correlated with location information, suchas visual imagery, latitude/longitude, an address, or the like,corresponding to the locations at which the electric field strength wasmeasured by the sensor probe 106. In an alternative embodiment, theprocessor 108 may additionally or alternatively compute the electricfield strength at one or more other frequencies for additional analysisof stray voltages.

Some specific objects, such as the crossing sign 118, may becharacterized by a group of field strength values exhibiting a certainsignature and thereby recognized as being typically non-hazardousobjects. For example, if the field strengths for a measured object atthe second and third frequencies satisfy first and second thresholds,respectively, related to the field strength at the first frequency(e.g., the field strength at the second frequency is greater than 10% ofthe fundamental frequency level and the field strength at the thirdfrequency is less than 5% of the fundamental frequency level), theobject may be determined to be the crossing sign 118. Additionally oralternatively, other types of signature analysis may be utilized. Forobjects that may be so characterized and determined to be typicallynon-hazardous objects, the SVD system 102 may provide a specificindication that the object is typically non-hazardous and requires nofurther investigation. Alternatively, the SVD system 102 may suppress anindication (e.g., a visual alarm, an audible alarm, or the like) of adetected electric field radiated from the object. Such characterizationof typically non-hazardous objects may thereby improve the speed andefficiency of identifying potentially hazardous objects by allowing theuser to bypass typically non-hazardous objects that are radiating anelectric field.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a processor 108 in accordance with one ormore embodiments of the present invention. The processor 108 comprises acentral processing unit (CPU) 204 coupled to support circuits 206 and amemory 208.

The CPU 204 may comprise one or more conventionally availablemicroprocessors. Alternatively, the CPU 204 may include one or moreapplication specific integrated circuits (ASICs). The support circuits206 are well known circuits used to promote functionality of the CPU 204and may include, but are not limited to, a cache, power supplies, clockcircuits, buses, network cards, input/output (I/O) circuits, and thelike.

The memory 208 may comprise random access memory, read only memory,removable disk memory, flash memory, and various combinations of thesetypes of memory. The memory 208 is sometimes referred to as main memoryand may, in part, be used as cache memory or buffer memory. The memory208 generally stores the operating system (OS) 210 of the processor 108.The OS 210 may be one of a number of commercially available operatingsystems such as, but not limited to, SOLARIS from SUN Microsystems,Inc., AIX from IBM Inc., HP-UX from Hewlett Packard Corporation, LINUXfrom Red Hat Software, Windows 2000 from Microsoft Corporation, and thelike.

The memory 208 may store various forms of application software, such asstray voltage detection (SVD) module 212. Additionally, the memory 208may store data 214 that is related to the operation of the SVD system102.

The SVD module 212 processes the electrical signals received from thesensor probe 106 to generate the field strengths at the first, second,and third frequencies. Generally, narrow band filtering is performed ateach frequency measured. In some embodiments, the electrical signalsfrom the sensor probe 106 are sampled every 1/960^(th) of a second priorto processing by the SVD module 212; other sampling rates mayalternatively be used, and the electrical signals may additionally beamplified and/or filtered prior to being sampled.

In some embodiments, the received signal may be digitized and the SVDmodule 212 generates the field strengths at the first, second, and thirdfrequencies by computing a fast Fourier transform (FFT) of the sampledelectrical signals to obtain a frequency domain representation of theelectric field. The SVD module 212 then computes a magnitude squared ofthe frequency component at the first frequency, the frequency componentat the second frequency, and the frequency component at the thirdfrequency (e.g., the fundamental power line frequency, the secondharmonic, and the third harmonic); in one or more alternativeembodiments, the SVD module 212 may additionally or alternativelycompute strengths of the electric field at one or more other frequenciesfor use in analyzing stray voltages. In some embodiments, the SVD module212 may utilize speed and/or location data from the speed/locationsensors 110 when computing the electric field strengths; e.g., the speedand/or location data may be utilized to normalize the computed electricfield strengths with respect to time and amplitude.

Examples of a technique for computing an electric field strength at 60Hz, such as that used by the SVD module 212, may be found in commonlyassigned U.S. Pat. No. 7,248,054, entitled “Apparatus and Method forDetecting an Electric Field”, issued Jul. 24, 2007; commonly assignedU.S. Pat. No. 7,253,642, entitled “Method for Sensing an Electric Field”and issued Aug. 7, 2007; and commonly assigned U.S. patent applicationpublication number 2009/0195255, entitled “Apparatus and Method forMonitoring and Controlling Detection of Stray Voltage Anomalies” andfiled Jan. 21, 2009. Such a technique may additionally be utilized forcomputing an electric field strength at other frequencies.

In some other embodiments, a demodulation scheme may be employed toseparate the frequencies for determining the field strengths at thefundamental frequency and at least one other frequency.

The computed field strengths at the first, second, and third frequenciesmay be graphically displayed, for example as described below withrespect to FIG. 3, on the SVD display system 112 for discriminatingbetween potentially hazardous energized objects and potentiallynon-hazardous electric field sources. The processor 108 may correlatethe computed field strengths with location and/or time data from thespeed/location sensors 110 for display on the SVD display system 112and/or for storage in the data 214. In some embodiments, the processor108 may comprise a transceiver for remotely communicating data.

FIG. 3 is a graphical diagram 300 for discriminating between potentiallyhazardous and non-hazardous electric field sources in accordance withone or more embodiments of the present invention. The graphical diagram300 comprises a graph 302 representing electric field strength magnitudeon a Y-axis and distance traveled by the SVD system 102/mobile vehicle104 on an X-axis. The graphical diagram 300 further comprises plots 304,306, and 308 of computed field strengths at 60 Hz, 120 Hz, and 180 Hz(i.e., the fundamental frequency of the power line and the first andsecond harmonics), respectively, along the route traversed by the SVDsystem 102/mobile vehicle 104. Although plots 306 and 308 depict thecomputed field strengths at harmonics of the power line fundamentalfrequency, computed field strengths at frequencies not harmonicallyrelated may be utilized. In some embodiments, computed field strengthsat fewer or more frequencies may be determined and graphicallydisplayed.

At a first location L₁, representative of a location proximate themanhole cover 114, the 60 Hz plot 304 exhibits a peak magnitude that ismuch greater than a magnitude of the 120 Hz plot 306 and a magnitude ofthe 180 Hz plot 308 at the location L₁, thereby indicating a potentiallyhazardous charged object proximate the location L₁ (i.e., the manholecover 114). Additionally or alternatively, other measures may beutilized for determining a potentially hazardous charged object, such ascomparing one or more ratios of the computed field strengths to one ormore thresholds. At a second location L₂, representative of a locationproximate the crossing sign 118, the 60 Hz plot 304 exhibits a muchsmaller magnitude than a peak magnitude of the 120 Hz plot 306 and the180 Hz plot 308, thereby indicating a potentially non-hazardous sourceof an electric field proximate the location L₂ (i.e., the crossing sign118).

In one or more other embodiments, the magnitude of plots 306 and/or 308need not be greater or less than the magnitude of plot 304 to determinethat an electric field source is potentially hazardous or non-hazardous;such a determination may be made based on the existence of the electricfield components at 120 Hz and/or 180 Hz and their relative strengthswith respect to the electric field strength at 60 Hz. Ratios may begreater than, equal to, or less than 100%.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of a method 400 for discriminating betweenpotentially hazardous and non-hazardous electric field sources inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention. Insome embodiments, a stray voltage detection (SVD) system, such as theSVD system 102, is utilized to remotely (i.e., in a non-contact fashion)detect objects energized by stray voltages from a power distributionsystem and to discriminate between potentially hazardous energizedobjects and potentially non-hazardous sources of electric fields. Whiletraversing a particular route being scanned for stray voltages, the SVDsystem remotely measures an electric field along the route (i.e.,without contact to any objects along the route) and computes strengthsof the electric field for identifying and discriminating betweenpotentially hazardous and non-hazardous sources of the electric field.

The method 400 starts at step 402 and proceeds to step 404. At step 404,the electric field at a particular location is remotely measured and astrength of the electric field at the fundamental frequency of the powerdistribution system (“field strength at a first frequency”) is computed,for example, as previously described with respect to FIG. 2. In someembodiments, the power distribution system may be a U.S. powerdistribution system having a fundamental frequency of 60 Hz;alternatively, the power distribution system may have a differentfundamental frequency, such as a 50 Hz power distribution systemutilized in Europe and parts of Asia.

The method 400 proceeds to step 406, where strengths of the electricfield at the second and third harmonics of the fundamental frequency(“field strength at a second frequency” and “field strength at a thirdfrequency”, respectively) are computed, for example, also as previouslydescribed with respect to FIG. 2. In some embodiments, where the powerdistribution system is a U.S. power distribution system, the second andthird harmonics are at 120 Hz and 180 Hz, respectively. Generally,narrow band filtering is performed at each frequency measured. In somealternative embodiments, strength of the electric field at one or moreother frequencies, not necessarily harmonically related to thefundamental frequency, may additionally or alternatively be determinedfor analysis of stray voltages. In some other alternative embodiments,the strength of the electric field is only determined at the first andsecond frequencies for use in the method 400.

The method 400 proceeds to step 408, where the computed field strengthsare compared. In some embodiments, the computed field strengths aregraphically displayed, such as previously described with respect to FIG.3, for a user to visually distinguish between potentially hazardous andnon-hazardous electric field sources based on the relative strengths ofthe electric field at the first, second, and/or third frequencies. Thecomputed field strengths may be correlated with and displayed withcorresponding location and/or time information, such as video imageryand/or time stamp data obtained while measuring the electric field withthe SVD system. Additionally or alternatively, the computed fieldstrengths may be analyzed by a processor of the SVD system fordetermining whether the electric field source is potentially hazardousor non-hazardous; for example, one or more ratios of the computed fieldstrengths may be calculated and compared to one or more thresholds formaking such a determination. The SVD system may further generate avisual and/or audible indication to signify whether the electric fieldsource is potentially hazardous or non-hazardous.

In some embodiments, some or all of the data pertaining to the SVDsystem, such as raw data obtained by the SVD system, data processed bythe SVD system, and the like, may be remotely communicated and/or storedfor subsequent analysis.

The method 400 proceeds to step 410, where a determination is madewhether the comparison of the computed field strengths indicates thatthe electric field source is potentially hazardous or non-hazardous. Insome embodiments, an object may be considered potentially hazardous ornon-hazardous based on the relative levels of the computed fieldstrengths; for example, an object may be considered potentiallyhazardous if the computed field strength at the fundamental frequency issubstantially greater than the computed field strengths at the secondand third harmonics at a particular location proximate the object. Aspreviously described, such a determination may be made visually by auser viewing a graphical display of the computed field strengths and/orby a processor of the SVD system analyzing the computed field strengths.Additionally, one or more computed field strengths, either alone or incombination, may exhibit a signature for identifying a specific type ofpotentially hazardous or non-hazardous object, such as a streetlight, acrossing sign, a manhole cover, or the like. Such a signature may bedetermined, for example, by comparing a plurality of computed fieldstrengths to one another (e.g., by comparing the field strength at afirst frequency to one or more previous computations of field strengthat the first frequency taken at the same location), by comparing one ormore computed field strengths to one or more signature templates orprofiles, by comparing one or more relative values of computed fieldstrengths to one or more thresholds, or by a similar signatureidentification technique. Such e-field signatures may then be stored foruse in identifying potentially hazardous/non-hazardous energizedstructures.

For objects that may be characterized by such a signature and determinedto be typically non-hazardous objects, the SVD system may provide aspecific indication that the object is typically non-hazardous andrequires no further investigation. Alternatively, the SVD system maysuppress an indication (e.g., a visual alarm, an audible alarm, or thelike) of a detected electric field radiated from the object. Suchcharacterization of typically non-hazardous objects may thereby improvethe speed and efficiency of identifying potentially hazardous objects byallowing the user to bypass typically non-hazardous objects that areradiating an electric field.

If, at step 410, it is determined that the comparison of the computedfield strengths indicates that that the object is potentially hazardous,the method 400 proceeds to step 412 and concludes that the object is apotentially hazardous energized object. In some embodiments, the SVDsystem may provide a visual and/or audible indication of such aconclusion. The method 400 then proceeds to step 416 where it ends.

If, at step 410, it is determined that the comparison of the computedfield strengths indicates that the electric field source is potentiallynon-hazardous, the method 400 proceeds to step 414 and concludes thatthe object is a potentially non-hazardous electric field source. In someembodiments, the SVD system may provide a visual and/or audibleindication of such a conclusion. The method 400 then proceeds to step416 where it ends.

FIG. 5 is a pair of graphical diagrams 500 depicting exemplary data fordiscriminating between potentially hazardous and non-hazardous electricfield sources in accordance with one or more embodiments of the presentinvention. The graphical diagrams 500 comprise graphs 502 and 504representing electric field strength magnitude on a Y-axis and distancetraveled by the SVD system 102/mobile vehicle 104 on an X-axis. In someembodiments, such as the embodiment depicted in FIG. 5, the powerdistribution system operates at a fundamental frequency of 60 Hz;alternatively, the power distribution system may operate at a differentfundamental frequency, such as 50 Hz.

Graph 502 comprises plots 506, 508, and 510 of computed field strengthsat 60 Hz, 120 Hz, and 180 Hz (i.e., the fundamental frequency of thepower line and the first and second harmonics), respectively, along afirst route traversed by the SVD system 102/mobile vehicle 104. Plots506, 508, and 510 are overlaid on correlated visual imagery additionallyobtained along the first route by the SVD system 102. Although plots 508and 510 depict computed field strengths at harmonics of the power linefundamental frequency, computed field strengths at frequencies notharmonically related may be utilized. At location L₁, the relativestrengths of the plots 506, 508, and 510 indicate a potentiallynon-hazardous source of an electric field proximate the location L₁. Insome embodiments, the plots 506, 508, and/or 510, or a combinationthereof, may exhibit a signature identifying a specific type ofpotentially non-hazardous electric field source, such as a pedestriancrossing sign that emits an electric field pattern similar to that of apotentially hazardous energized object but does not exhibit a voltage atits surface. Such a signature may be determined, for example, by arelative comparison of the plots 506, 508, and/or 510, by comparing oneor more of the plots 506, 508, and 510 to one or more signaturetemplates or profiles, or by a similar signature identificationtechnique.

Graph 504 comprises plots 512, 514, and 516 of computed field strengthsat 60 Hz, 120 Hz, and 180 Hz, respectively, along a second routetraversed by the SVD system 102/mobile vehicle 104. Plots 512, 514, and516 are overlaid on correlated visual imagery additionally obtainedalong the second route by the SVD system 102. Although plots 514 and 516depict computed field strengths at harmonics of the power linefundamental frequency, computed field strengths at frequencies notharmonically related may be utilized. At location L₂, the relativestrengths of the plots 512, 514, and 516 indicate a potentiallyhazardous charged object proximate the location L₂. In some embodiments,the plots 512, 514, and/or 516, or a combination thereof, may exhibit asignature identifying a specific type of potentially hazardous electricfield source, such as a streetlight, a manhole cover, or the like,having a potentially hazardous energized surface. Such a signature maybe determined, for example, by a relative comparison of the plots 512,514, and/or 516; by comparing one or more of the plots 512, 514, and 516to one or more signature templates or profiles; or by a similarsignature identification technique.

The foregoing description of embodiments of the invention comprises anumber of elements, devices, circuits and/or assemblies that performvarious functions as described. These elements, devices, circuits,and/or assemblies are exemplary implementations of means for performingtheir respectively described functions.

While the foregoing is directed to embodiments of the present invention,other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised withoutdeparting from the basic scope thereof, and the scope thereof isdetermined by the claims that follow.

The invention claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for discriminating between electric field sources, comprising: a mobile detection system comprising: a sensor probe for remotely measuring an electric field generated by an electric field source in a patrolled area; and a processor, coupled to the sensor probe, for executing computer-executable instructions comprising: processing electric field data received from the sensor probe to generate strength components of the electric field at a plurality of harmonic frequencies, 10^(th) order and lower; determining a ratio of first strength components at one or more harmonics of a power distribution system's fundamental frequency with second strength components at the power distribution system's fundamental frequency, comparing the ratio to known signatures of one or more electric field sources to identify a type of potentially hazardous objects; determining a level of hazard posed by a potentially hazardous object; and generating an indication of whether the electric field source is potentially hazardous according to the type of the potentially hazardous object.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the strength components are field strength measurements at, respectively, one or more frequencies.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a first frequency from the one or more frequencies is a fundamental frequency of a power distribution system.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first strength components and second strength components are each normalized with respect to time and amplitude.
 5. A method for discriminating between electric field sources, comprising: remotely measuring, by a mobile sensor probe, an electric field generated by an electric field source in a patrolled area; generating, based on remotely measuring the electrical field, electrical signals representing strength of the electric field; and computing, by a processor, based on the electric signals, strength components of the electric field at a plurality of harmonic frequencies, 10^(th) order and lower; determining a ratio of first strength components at one or more harmonics of a power distribution system's fundamental frequency with second strength components at the power distribution system's fundamental frequency; comparing the ratio to known signatures of one or more electric field sources to identify a type of potentially hazardous objects; determining a level of hazard posed by a potentially hazardous object; and generating an indication of whether the electric field source is potentially hazardous according to the type of the potentially hazardous object.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein strength components are field strength measurements at, respectively, one or more frequencies.
 7. The method of claim 5, wherein a first frequency from the one or more frequencies is a fundamental frequency of a power distribution system.
 8. The method of claim 5, wherein the strength components are each normalized with respect to time and amplitude.
 9. The method of claim 6, wherein the one or more frequencies may be one or more harmonics of the power distribution system's fundamental frequency. 